China introduces 13 measures to boost and support childbirth

閱讀中文版本

These include improving maternity leave policies and fostering a birth-friendly social atmosphere.

In response to the aging population and to increase the birth rate, the State Council of the People's Republic of China has recently outlined 13 targeted birth support measures, covering various aspects such as fertility, parenting, education, and employment support.

These measures include steps to:

• Strengthen the protection of maternity insurance schemes for insured female employees. People in flexible and new forms of employment and rural migrant workers, who have already participated in the basic medical insurance scheme for urban workers, will be included in the country's maternity insurance scheme.
• Improve maternity leave policies. Ensure the implementation of maternity, childbirth reward, paternity and childcare leave policies enforced by laws in place.
• The cost of caring for infants and children under three years old, as well as the cost of children’s education, will be included in the deductions for personal income tax.
• Suitable labour pain relief and assisted reproductive technology services will be added to the list of services that qualify for medical insurance reimbursement
• Enhance the medical services for children.
• Increase the accessibility of childcare services.
• Capable localities are encouraged to provide appropriate subsidies to support the operations of childcare services.
• Advocate child development and protection.
• Increase the supply of quality pediatric resources.
• Capable localities are encouraged to raise the limits of loans from the housing provident fund for families with multiple children to support them in purchasing homes.
• Strengthen the protection of workers' rights and interests. Enhance policies to promote women's employment and strengthen vocational skills training for female workers, especially those who have given birth and are re-employed. Employers are encouraged to adopt flexible working time and work-from-home policies based on actual conditions to create a family-friendly working environment.
• Actively build a new-era marriage and childbearing culture.
• Strengthen social publicity and advocacy.

According to the statement, these measures will effectively reduce the costs of childbirth, childcare, and education, which would help in fostering a birth-friendly social atmosphere and strongly support high-quality population development.

ALSO READ: China to gradually delay retirement age from 1 January 2025